Contemporary Architecture in the Historic Environment

5
Introduction to the Annotated Bibliography
concerned with the quality of the built environment, such as the United Kingdom’s
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).
Some texts provide a methodology for designing in historic contexts, from analysis
of the historic fabric to development of a design response. Many offer an analysis
of the different types of relationships created between old and new buildings.
In these cases, design approaches are often categorized according to the degree to
which new architecture contrasts with the historic context. Although category
names vary greatly among authors, all authors agree that the opposite extremes are
constituted by replication of the local historic style(s) and adoption of a contemporary
architectural language that contrasts with the existing fabric. As expected, the
main point of diversion among authors is usually what constitutes the most appropriate
architectural response when building new in the historic environment. While
most authors advocate for a balance between local building traditions and contemporary
architecture, some give more emphasis to either contextual or contrasting
architecture. Those authors advocating for contemporary or contrasting designs
often base their arguments on the fact that they are part of the continuum of change
in or the evolution of architectural styles that represent the spirit of the time. The
approach advocated in a particular text is often deeply influenced by the historic
moment when the publication was first produced and/or the affiliation of an author
with a particular architectural style: for example, modernism or postmodernism.
As in chapter 1, section 1.3, this subject category includes texts that analyze the
current phenomenon of “starchitecture.” Rather than focusing on policy responses
to this phenomenon, though, these texts address the topic more generally, providing
a better understanding of the motivations for constructing these iconic buildings—
primarily as catalysts for economic growth and urban regeneration—and how they
impact the historic environment.
Among the publications in this category, it is common to find some that contain
portions dedicated to design guidelines and case studies; however, when the main
focus of the publication is design approaches or philosophies, the texts have been
placed in this category rather than elsewhere.
Chapter 4: Case Studies
The publications grouped here contain one or more examples of new architectural
insertions in the historic context, which typically date to the 20th or 21st century.
These examples include large-scale additions to historic buildings, single infill
buildings, or groups of buildings, which have been either proposed or realized in a
historic, and often urban, environment. Most of the publications are dedicated to
presenting and analyzing these types of projects; however, some of the case studies
are found in publications dedicated to a broader subject—for example, a monograph
on the work of a specific architect, which includes some projects located in
historic environments. The type of publication often influences how the case study
is presented and to what degree the response to the historic context is discussed.
Included are several titles by architects who participated in the GCI symposium
“Minding the Gap: The Role of Contemporary Architecture in the Historic
Environment,” held at the Getty Center in Los Angeles in 2013. This one-day public
symposium explored the role of contemporary architecture in the historic urban
environment through presentations by Thomas H. Beeby, Juergen Mayer H., Rafael
Moneo, Richard Rogers, and Denise Scott Brown, as well as a discussion moderated
by architecture critic Paul Goldberger. Video of the entire event can be viewed
Contemporary Architecture in the Historic Environment: An Annotated Bibliography - Getty Conservation Institute - 2015